US court rules against Natco Pharma in a patent case

In a case involving Natco Pharma and Israel’s Teva Pharmaceutical, the US Supreme Court has reportedly ruled in favour of Teva over patent for multiple sclerosis drug Copaxone. “The US Supreme Court on January 20, 2015 ruled that Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd can still benefit from patent protection for top-selling multiple sclerosis drug Copaxone, dealing a blow to generic drugmakers looking to market a cheaper rival product,” a Reuters report said.
 
The high court's ruling is a loss for generic companies Mylan Inc, Momenta Pharmaceuticals Inc, Natco Pharma Ltd and Sandoz Inc.
 
Two teams are developing generic forms of Copaxone: one involving Novartis AG's Sandoz unit and Momenta Pharmaceuticals Inc and another involving Mylan Inc and Natco Pharma Ltd, added report.